Republicans have sharply criticized university system Chancellor Jim Rogers' comments about parents in his State of the System address.

Rogers, who has been fighting Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons' proposed drastic budget cuts to higher education, took aim at an apathetic public in Friday's speech.

"Your only relationship with the education system is to ship your unprepared kids to school, not with the expectation of success, but with the demand that an education system, inadequately funded, develop and/or repair children that you as a parent did not prepare for school or support while your children attended school," Rogers said.

Rogers, in his address, said parents might have to face tax increases and sacrifice so that their children can go to college.

"You have to take part in your child's education," Rogers said. "Your responsibility does not stop as they walk out the door to catch the bus."